Sunday, November 10, 2013

GETTING COLD IN NORTHERN INDIANA


The Elkhart Indiana Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana is an extensive place.  It reminds us of the Fryeburg, Maine Fairgrounds in size, if not set up.   We are here at this Fairgrounds because they have an extensive operation for campers.....in season, rallies are held here in addition to 4-H and other Fair activities.   And they keep one section of the camping area open year round.....and that is where we are....enjoying full hookups for water, sewer and 50amp electric.   The 50amp is very important to us since we are an all electric coach.....no propane to backup systems.   We actually prefer the all electric coach arrangement.....which also makes our motorhome a "natural candidate" for a solar system.

We have used our time here this weekend rather wisely to do a lot of "picking up and putting away" things that had been just lying about.   We now are debating whether to spend another night here or move later this afternoon to the Solar Systems parking lot and dry camp for the night as they want our coach there for 6am tomorrow-ugh!!   We may decide to stay here and enjoy the full hookups for another night.....and get up very early to make the 30 minute drive over to Solar Systems.  

It has turned cold here these past couple days so we have been using our heat pumps to stay warm.  That said, once our temps went lower and into the 30's we turned off the heat pumps and put on our Aqua Hot instant hot water heating system.  It runs off diesel fuel.   The next two nights are going even colder into the 20's so the Aqua Hot is even more important.   Yesterday we discovered zone2 of our heating system was blowing cool air....not good.   No heat in the bedroom and bath areas.   So I got out the Aqua Hot IB's   (instruction books) and downloaded a system schematic and checked for advice on some RV Forums.   Armed with this information I took the cover off the system (it is located in an outside basement bay) and tapped the check valves for zone 2.  I also noted the blower motor spinning wheel was impeded by a wire harness so I moved that aside.  Wala....Pam hollered out to me that the bedroom heat had come back on.  Yay!!   We now have a better understanding of how our Aqua Hot system works....and, fingers crossed, we will not have any further issues while we remain here in Northern Indiana!

This whole area of Northern Indiana is flush with Amish folk.   We think it is safe to say this area puts more well known Amish areas such as Lancaster, PA "to shame" in terms of numbers.   Every day we are out we see Amish buggies plying up and down the roads, as well as many Amish riding bicycles not just to school but also to work.   Many Amish work as craftsmen at woodworking and cabinet shops.....their work is exemplary.   We are fortunate to have had the cabinet work in our Travel Supreme done by the Amish.   The quality is self evident.   Many other businesses are run by the Amish as well.....including Solar Energy Systems in Nappanee, where our panels will be installed.

 Here is a buggy that brought three Amish ladies to the local grocery store.
 
Here is our favorite!!! 
 
Stay tuned for our next blog.....showing Ali on the beach at Lake Michigan AND some of the upgrades we have had done to our motorhome..........later.

No comments:

Post a Comment